Baseball Unable to Overcome Early Miscues
April 14, 2015 09:25 PM | General
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GRANVILLE, W.Va. – Early mistakes cost the West Virginia University baseball team as it fell 5-3 to Penn State on Tuesday evening at Monongalia County Ballpark.
The loss drops WVU’s overall record to 21-13 as the Mountaineers scored three runs on eight hits with one error. Penn State scored five runs on eight hits with no errors to increase its record to 11-20 overall.
“This was the definition of a trap game coming off an emotional weekend and we have another big weekend coming up,” coach Randy Mazey said. “When you get into a trap game you have to show up with energy and have some leadership, and we didn’t do that. Our energy in infield/outfield wasn’t good and we took it to the field.”
Freshman right-hander Shane Ennis (1-2) was handed the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, on eight hits in just 4.1 innings. Ennis also struck out three batters.
Freshman second baseman Kyle Davis had three hits, including his team-leading 15th double of the season. He also drove in one run.
Penn State took advantage of West Virginia miscues in the top of the first, scoring two runs on three hits and capitalizing on one error to take a 2-0 lead. With runners on the corners, Jim Haley laid down a squeeze bunt to score James Coates from third base and then Greg Guers stole third base and scored on a throwing error by catcher Cam O’Brien.
Following a leadoff double by Tyler Kendall in the top of the second, Coates singled to right field with two outs to extend the Nittany Lion lead to 3-0.
Penn State made it 5-0 in the top of the fifth as Guers singled to center field to score Alex Malinsky from third base. Coates then scored from third base on an attempted pickoff in which WVU tagged out the runner going from first to second. Malinksy and Coates each singled to the lead off the frame.
Freshman left fielder Caleb Potter cut the deficit to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the frame with his third home run of the season.
Sophomore designated hitter Garrett Hope scored to make it 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth after hitting a one-out triple to the right field wall. Hope crossed the plate in the next at bat when freshman Kyle Davis hit a bloop single to right field.
The Mountaineers scored for the third-consecutive inning in the bottom of the seventh with senior shortstop Taylor Munden driving in junior center fielder KC Huth with an RBI ground out to second base, making it 5-3.
Marko Boricich (2-0) picked up the win in 1.1 innings of relief for Penn State. He allowed one run on two hits. Coates went 3-for-4 to lead the Nittany Lions at the plate, while Guers added two hits.
West Virginia will host No. 23 Oklahoma this weekend in a Big 12 series at Monongalia County Ballpark from April 17-19. Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m., Saturday’s game starts at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s finale begins at 11 a.m.
There will be a postgame fireworks show courtesy of Coca-Cola on Friday, while the game also has been designated as Family Day. The promotion features four tickets, four hot dogs, four Cokes and one popcorn for just $25 at WVUGAME.com and 1-800-WVU GAME. Family Day packages must be purchased in advance and are not available on game day.
The entire series will feature a free video stream, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The game can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call.
Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the TuneIn Radio App. WVUsports.com also will carry free live audio via the LeanStream Player at WVUsports.com/audio.
A link to live stats is available on WVUsports.com.
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